Deaf Friendly Addiction Treatment Programs

Last Edited: September 27, 2020

Author
Patricia Howard, LMFT, CADC

Clinically Reviewed
Mark Frey, LPCC, LICDC, NCC

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and certified by an addiction professional.

Substance abuse occurs as frequently in the deaf population as it does within hearing communities. In fact, it’s often with heavier use. Unfortunately, deaf-friendly addiction treatment can be hard to find. Locating American Sign Language (ASL)-friendly support groups can be equally as challenging.

We’re going to tell you what you need to know about substance abuse in the deaf community. Additionally, we can help you find detox, treatment or meetings near you.

Browse rehab Treatment Centers
102 Appleton Street
Lowell MA 1852
Lowell House Inc (Residential Services) located at 102 Appleton Street, Lowell, MA 01852, United States is an alcohol rehab center providing substance...
100 Green Street
Lynn MA 1902
CAB Health and Recovery Services Inc (Ryan Rehabilitation Center) located at 100 Green Street, Lynn, MA 01902, United States is an alcohol treatment c...
269 Union Street
Lynn MA 1901
Lynn Community Health Inc (Behavioral Healthcare) located at 269 Union Street, Lynn, MA 01901, United States is an alcohol rehab program providing sub...
340 Maple Street
Marlborough MA 1752
Advocates Community Counseling (Marlborough) located at 340 Maple Street, Marlborough, MA 01752, United States is a drug treatment facility providing ...
100 North Front Street
New Bedford MA 2740
High Point Treatment Center Inc (Section 35 WATC Program) located at 100 North Front Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, United States is a drug rehab ce...
100 North Front Street
New Bedford MA 2740
High Point Treatment Center Inc (Section 5 STIT Program) located at 100 North Front Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, United States is a drug treatment c...
497 Belleville Avenue
New Bedford MA 2746
Reflections Inc (New Bedford) located at 497 Belleville Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02746, United States is a drug rehab program providing substance abuse...
37 Washington Street
Newburyport MA 1950
Link House Inc (Newburyport) located at 37 Washington Street, Newburyport, MA 01950, United States is an alcohol treatment center providing substance ...
25 Graves Avenue
Northampton MA 1060
Hairston House (Northampton) located at 25 Graves Avenue, Northampton, MA 01060, United States is a drug rehab program providing substance abuse treat...
69 East Main Street
Norton MA 2766
North Cottage Program Inc (Halfway House) located at 69 East Main Street, Norton, MA 02766, United States is a drug treatment program providing substa...
111 Edgartown Road
Oak Bluffs MA 2557
Marthas Vineyard Community Services (Island Counseling Center/Outpatient) located at 111 Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, United States is an alc...
165 Tor Court
Pittsfield MA 1201
Berkshire Medical Center/Hillcrest (Campus Thomas W McGee Unit) located at 165 Tor Court, Pittsfield, MA 01201, United States is an alcohol treatment ...
202 Bradford Street
Pittsfield MA 1201
Brien Center (Keenan House) located at 202 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, United States is a drug rehab center providing substance abuse treat...
333 East Street
Pittsfield MA 1201
Brien Center (Mental Health/Substance Abuse Servs) located at 333 East Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, United States is a drug treatment center providin...
1233 State Road
Plymouth MA 2360
High Point Treatment Center Inc (Detoxification Program) located at 1233 State Road, Plymouth, MA 02360, United States is a drug treatment facility pr...
1233 State Road
Plymouth MA 2360
High Point Treatment Center Inc (Dual Diagnosis Program) located at 1233 State Road, Plymouth, MA 02360, United States is a drug rehab program providi...
2 School Street
Plymouth MA 2360
High Point Treatment Center Inc (Outpatient Program) located at 2 School Street, Plymouth, MA 02360, United States is a drug treatment program providi...
13 Temple Street
Quincy MA 2169
Bay State Community Services Inc (Quincy) located at 13 Temple Street, Quincy, MA 02169, United States is an alcohol rehab program providing substance...
10 Dysart Street
Quincy MA 2169
South Shore Recovery Home (Quincy) located at 10 Dysart Street, Quincy, MA 02169, United States is a drug rehab center providing substance abuse treat...
56 Dimock Street
Roxbury MA 2119
Dimock Community Health Center (Alcohol and Drug Detoxification Prog) located at 56 Dimock Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, United States is a drug treatmen...

Deaf-Friendly Addiction Treatment: What You Should Know

Not all American deaf people can read English. As a matter of fact, many only understand American Sign Language (ASL.) With this said, treating a deaf patient can be difficult if there is no interpreter available.

Once you find a capable treatment center, you may wonder if you’ll receive the same quality treatment. The answer is yes. Hard-of-hearing and deaf patients will undergo the same treatment as their hearing counterparts. The treatment team will teach each patient about their addiction, as well as the root cause(s) of the disorder.

The interpreter will help the patient understand group discussions, one-on-one sessions, and how to take medications. Additionally, the interpreter helps patients understand materials the staff uses during treatment. One such example is The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Finding Support for Deaf-Friendly Addiction Treatment

Although finding deaf-friendly addiction treatment is difficult, it may be easier to find an ASL 12-step support group. Use our website to see what’s available near you.

Additionally, there are AA meetings that allow members of the deaf community to come together through online streaming. These meetings usually occur at regularly set times. They allow deaf and hard-of-hearing participants to communicate comfortably.

Meeting online isn’t for everyone. Sometimes a person needs real, live human interaction. 12-Step meeting participants of any group welcome a deaf person with open arms. If an interpreter is unavailable, ask about a video relay service or other forms of telecommunications to help. In other words, you have a place to go if you’re unable to locate a deaf-friendly addiction treatment program nearby.

ASL / Hearing Impaired Addiction Treatment Program

The disease of addiction is understood by the medical community to be a chronic, relapsing mental illness. This devastating disease claims many lives every year, even more than car accidents and gun-related deaths.

Almost no one has been spared pain by this disease. The Center for Disease Control estimates that one in ten American adults struggles with substance abuse issues. With such high statistics, almost every has been directly or indirectly affected by this cunning, baffling and powerful disease.

Addiction affects an individual physically, mentally, and spiritually. In order to overcome this complex and insidious disease, addiction treatment is needed.

Addiction treatment utilizes various therapeutic methods to address the underlying issues that promoting an individual to use. Through individual therapy, group therapy, educational seminars and other activities, clients learn about the disease of addiction, what caused him or her to use, and how to cope with situations, stress and triggers without the use of mood and mind-altering substances in the future.

Clear communication is vital for effective addiction treatment. For individuals who speak sign language, ASL, finding a treatment center that caters to your needs is critical.